With Spring in full bloom, Chapel Hill, North Carolina visitors and residents will find no shortage of fun things to do in this vibrant community.
Photo courtesy of North Carolina Botanical Garden.
Foliage enthusiasts will want to visit UNC-Chapel Hill’s North Carolina Botanical Garden, which features gardens and nature trails with plants native to the Tar Heel State. Individual gardens include native water gardens, a carnivorous plant collection, a horticultural therapy demonstration garden, and more. The Garden offers guided tours for groups. Private, guided tours are available on weekdays only, but free general tours are open to the public on some Saturdays (call 919-962-0522 for more information). The N.C. Botanical Garden is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. A special “Step into Spring” Prelude Party with a garden tour will be held on Thursday, April 28 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Tickets are $50/person. Purchase your tickets here.
The 21st Annual Piedmont Farm Tour will be held April 23 through April 24 just next to Chapel Hill in Carrboro. This is a great event for families with kids, giving them the opportunity to meet farmers up close and learn firsthand about how their food is grown and reaches their tables. 
Visitors will have the opportunity to meet up to 40 local farmers and tour their farms. You have never seen such a large and unique sustainable farm tour! Advance tickets per car are $30; tickets the day of tour per car are $35, and tickets are $10 per single farm. Ticket covers both days. Purchase advance tickets here.
Downtown Chapel Hill’s “Live and Local” series is in full swing, with events from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every Friday. On April 29, you can enjoy “Creating an Uproar,” featuring UNC’s Art Heels and Chapel Hill-based Broadway Bound. On May 6, celebrate Bike Week with the East Chapel Hill School Ukulele Orchestra. Enjoy Chapel Hill-based Hudson & Haw‘s folk tunes to the plaza this May. The musical trio released their debut album this month, which offers a fresh take on the folk music scene. And on May 20, downtown Chapel Hill will transform into Cirque du Plaza, featuring face painters, stilt walkers, balloon twisters, and the famous “Spin Man.”
Hudson and Haw. Photo courtesy of chapelboro.com
Springtime also means the Chapel Hill Farmer’s Market is back on Tuesdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., located outside of University Place (formerly University Mall) at 201 S. Estes Drive. You will find an abundance of fresh produce, cheese, ale, artisan products, and more from across North Carolina. Vendors include Coon Rock Farm, Ever Laughter Farm, The Hillsborough Cheese Co., and the Mystery Brewing Co.
Foodies will also want to expand their culinary horizons by visiting one of the new or fan-favorite eateries in Chapel Hill. Enjoy patio dining for brunch or dinner at Provence, featuring the cuisine of the French Mediterranean with an emphasis on local, seasonal dishes. This authentic French restaurant is considered one of the best in the Triangle. Speaking of brunch, you will want to visit Johnny’s Gone Fishing for a great cup of locally-roasted fair trade coffee. Enjoy a delicious crepe from Parlez-vous Crepe food truck, which visits Johnny’s Gone Fishing each Sunday for brunch between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Imbibe, located at 108 Henderson Street, is a new restaurant, taproom, and bottle shop specializing in beer and wine education. Visit on Tuesday, April 28 for a smoke beer and food pairing from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Cost is $12 per person. The Root Cellar, located at 750 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., is a farm-to-ta
Photo courtesy of Calavera.
ble restaurant offering breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Paleo dinners. Each meal is prepared from scratch each day using fresh, local ingredients. On April 26, The Root Cellar will host DINE4AUTISM to help raise money and awareness for the Triangle Chapters of the Autism Society of North Carolina. The restaurant will be donating 10% of the day’s sales to the Society. If you are in the mood for authentic Italian artisan pizza, you’ll want to check out Pizzeria Mercato, 408 West Weaver Street in downtown Carrboro. But it’s first come, first serve, so get there early! Finally, for those who favor southwestern fare, make plans to dine at Calavera, a new Carrboro eatery specializing in just two things, empanadas and tequila. Located at 300 East Main building near Cats Cradle, this is a great spot for unique cocktails and late dinners.